Academic Writing Task 1 · process diagram

The life cycle of a salmon from egg to adult stage

The diagrams below show the life cycle of a species of large fish called the salmon.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

Life cycle of a salmon

1.Eggs are laid in the upper river among reeds and small stones for 5-6 months
2.Eggs hatch into fry (3-8cm) and move to the lower river for 4 years
3.Fry develop into smolts (12-15cm) and migrate to the open sea
4.Smolts grow into adult salmon (70-76cm) in the open sea for 5 years
5.Adult salmon return to the upper river to spawn

Chart redrawn by BandLadder from the data in the original IELTS practice task. Many IELTS practice tasks come from the Cambridge IELTS series (Cambridge University Press & Assessment); all rights in the original tasks remain with their owners.

Band 8 sample answer

The provided diagram illustrates the various stages in the life cycle of a salmon, detailing the environments, durations, and physical growth associated with each phase. Overall, the process is cyclical, involving migration between the upper river, lower river, and the open sea, with significant growth occurring as the fish matures.

The cycle begins in the upper river, where eggs are deposited among reeds and small stones. This initial stage lasts for approximately 5 to 6 months. Once hatched, the fish, known as 'fry', measure between 3 and 8 cm. These fry then migrate to the lower river, which is characterised by fast-flowing water. They remain in this environment for about 4 years, during which time they develop into 'smolts', reaching a size of 12 to 15 cm.

Following this, the smolts migrate to the open sea. This final growth phase is the longest, lasting approximately 5 years. During this period, the fish mature into adult salmon, significantly increasing in size to between 70 and 76 cm. Finally, the adult salmon return to the upper river to complete the cycle.

179 words. Every figure in the answer comes from the chart above.

How to write about process diagrams

Say how many stages there are and where the process starts and ends.
Use the passive and sequencers: first, after this, once, finally.
Keep every stage; a missing step costs task achievement.

illustrates: shows or provides a visual representation of information
cyclical: occurring in a repeating series of events or stages
characterised by: having a particular feature or quality as a trait
migrate: move from one region or habitat to another
mature: reach a fully developed or adult physical state
significant: sufficiently great or important to be worthy of attention

Write your own report and get a band

Take a timed Academic writing test and get a band for task achievement, coherence, vocabulary and grammar, with the sentences to fix.

Practise IELTS Academic writing

On your phone? Get the BandLadder app.

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

The life cycle of a salmon is a complex process involving migration between different aquatic environments, spanning a total period of approximately 9 to 10 years.

How long should an IELTS Task 1 answer be?

At least 150 words; 170 to 200 is the safe range. Spend about 20 minutes on it and leave 40 for Task 2, which carries twice the marks.

How do I describe process diagrams?

Say how many stages there are and where the process starts and ends. Use the passive and sequencers: first, after this, once, finally. Keep every stage; a missing step costs task achievement.